Joshua M.Mester (Josh)

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Los Angeles + 1.213.243.2508

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Josh Mester's practice concentrates on complex corporate reorganization and bankruptcy matters and distressed litigation. Josh has represented debtors, creditors, and shareholders in some of the largest restructuring cases across a variety of industries, including gaming and entertainment, health care, retail, media, professional sports, airlines, and utilities.

Josh is currently representing shareholders of PG&E Corporation in the largest restructuring in California. Josh's recent creditor representations include senior creditors holding more than $7 billion in debt of iHeartCommunications and second priority noteholders of Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, where Jones Day negotiated a settlement that resulted in more than $3 billion of additional value for noteholders. He also represents debtors in creatively solving financial challenges, such as his recent out-of-court restructurings for ContextMedia Health, LLC, a health care media company.

Before joining Jones Day in May 2012, Josh was a crucial member of the legal team that represented the Los Angeles Dodgers on its chapter 11 case resulting in a $2 billion sale of the team. He also represented a number of debtors in chapter 11 proceedings, including California Coastal Communities, Factory 2-U Stores, LTV Steel Company, Solidus Networks, and Weststar Cinemas. He represented creditors, creditor groups, indenture trustees, and other parties in interest in chapter 11 cases and out-of-court workouts across the county. In addition, he was a key member of the trial team that obtained an $80 million judgment for Hawaiian Airlines against Mesa Air Group arising from Mesa's breach of a confidentiality agreement.

Experience

  • Adventist Health maintains access to emergency services for Montebello community through chapter 11 saleJones Day advised Adventist Health in connection with its acquisition of certain assets of Beverly Community Hospital Association through Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, which closed on September 6, 2023 and allowed Adventist Health to advance ongoing access to necessary emergency department services for the Montebello community in East Los Angeles.
  • Wells Fargo provides $685 million syndicated construction loan for hotel and convention center in Chula Vista, CaliforniaJones Day represented Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in connection with a $685 million construction loan to the developers of the Gaylord Pacific convention center and hotel.
  • GEO Specialty Chemicals sold to CPS Performance MaterialsJones Day advised funds affiliated with DWS Group, the asset management arm of Deutsche Bank, and Solus Alternative Asset Management in connection with the sale of GEO Specialty Chemicals, a manufacturer of specialty chemicals for customers in the United States and internationally, to CPS Performance Materials, a portfolio company of Arsenal Capital Partners, a private equity firm that specializes in control investments in specialty industrials and healthcare businesses.
  • Senior creditors of iHeartCommunications negotiate exit term loan facilityJones Day advised senior creditors holding in excess of $7.4 billion in iHeartCommunications, Inc.'s prepetition indebtedness in connection with all aspects of the restructuring of iHeart's debt in a chapter 11 proceeding in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, including the negotiation and issuance of an approximately $3.5 billion senior secured exit term loan credit facility for iHeartCommunications, Inc. that was distributed to creditors under the plan.
  • Solus Alternative Asset Management and Deutsche Investment Management Americas complete recapitalization of Geo Specialty ChemicalsJones Day advised Solus Alternative Asset Management and Deutsche Investment Management Americas in connection with the recapitalization of Geo Specialty Chemicals, a manufacturer of specialty chemicals for customers in the United States and internationally.
  • Caesars' second lien noteholders negotiate extraordinary recovery through consensual chapter 11 planJones Day represented the Official Committee of Second Priority Noteholders ("Second Priority Noteholders") of Caesars Entertainment Operating Company ("CEOC"), the casino operator who filed for bankruptcy in January 2015.
  • Wilmington Savings Fund Society brings action against Caesars Entertainment Operating Company and related partiesJones Day was retained by Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB ("WSFS"), the indenture trustee for the second-priority senior secured notes issued by Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc. ("CEOC"), a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment Corporation ("CZR").
  • 20th Century Fox and Universal City Studios provide rescue DIP financing for Rhythm & HuesJones Day represented 20th Century Fox and Universal City Studios on the negotiation of rescue debtor-in-possession financing to Rhythm & Hues, Inc., a special effects company, who filed for bankruptcy in January 2013.
  • FriendFinder Networks noteholders take control of companyJones Day represented two individuals who held more than two thirds of $330 million in second lien notes issued by FriendFinder Networks, Inc.
  • Riverside completes sale of assets of HerbThymeJones Day advised The Riverside Company in connection with its sale of the assets of HerbThyme Farms, Inc., the largest grower, shipper and marketer of conventional and certified organic fresh culinary herbs in the United States, to Rocket Farms Herbs, Inc., a subsidiary of Monterey Peninsula Horticulture, Inc.
  • Senior lender group of Tribune Company achieves reorganization successJones Day represented holders of more than $3 billion of Senior Loans against Tribune Company and its affiliates in one of the largest and most high profile reorganizations of the last several years.
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    December 2022 Newsletters

    Business Restructuring Review Vol. 21, No. 6 | November-December 2022

    December 2022 Newsletters

    Fifth Circuit Rules on the "Solvent-Debtor Exception" and Make-Whole Premiums

    October 2022 Commentary

    Fifth Circuit Rules on the "Solvent-Debtor Exception" and Make-Whole Premiums

    September 2022 Commentary

    Divided Ninth Circuit Rules That Unimpaired Unsecured Creditors of a Solvent Debtor May Be Entitled to Post-Petition Interest at Contract or State Default Rates

    July/August 2017 Jones Day Publications

    Ninth Circuit Rules That Hypothetical Preference Actions May Be Considered in Applying the Greater Amount Test

    November/December 2016 Newsletters

    Aéropostale Bankruptcy Court Denies Motion to Equitably Subordinate or Recharacterize Secured Lenders’ Claims or to Limit Lenders’ Credit Bidding Rights

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